Happy International Sheltie Day! The Sheltie, otherwise known as the Shetland Sheepdog, are a truly magnificent breed so no wonder there is a whole day dedicated to them. In honour of them, we decided to bring you 5 fun facts about the breed!
- Shelties are intelligent.
They are the 6th smartest dog breed. The breed’s attentiveness is astounding and can learn a new trick in as little as 5 repetitions. - They were bred to be small.
Due to the harsher climate of the Shetland Islands, Shelties were bred to be small to help them survive the cold. Food was also scarce on the island so being smaller meant they required less food. - Shelties excel at sports.
Shelties enjoy many dog sports such as agility, herding, tracking and obedience. You name it, they can do it! - Shelties are natural alarm dogs.
The breed was bred to be a attentiveness and alarm barking. They are not a guard dog but will definitely alert you to any unknown guests. They are known to sing, talk, and yowl, often at their owners, which can make you feel that they are talking directly to you.
Shelties need daily exercise.
Due to their high intelligence, they need daily mental exercise alongside physical, too! Going on daily walks with smells, off leash parks, socialization with other dogs can be great outlets!
